IOSH Managing Safely Assessment-A Complete Guide to Passing and Excelling

The IOSH Managing Safely assessment is a crucial part of the widely recognized IOSH Managing Safely course, designed to equip managers and supervisors with essential health and safety knowledge and practical skills. The assessment primarily consists of two components: a written knowledge test and a practical risk assessment project. Together, they ensure that participants can not only understand health and safety principles but also apply them in real workplace settings to manage risks effectively.​

Understanding the IOSH Managing Safely Assessment Structure

The assessment tests your ability to apply the health and safety principles covered during the course to real-world workplace scenarios. It includes:

1. Written Test: A multiple-choice exam with around 30 questions covering health and safety regulations, hazard identification, risk control measures, and management responsibilities. The pass mark for this is usually set at 60%.​

2. Practical Risk Assessment Project: This involves conducting a risk assessment for your workplace or a chosen environment. You need to identify at least four different hazards, evaluate the associated risks using the IOSH 5x5 Risk Matrix, describe existing control measures, recommend additional controls, and assign responsibility for implementing these controls.​

Completing the Risk Assessment Project Successfully

The risk assessment component is the practical part where you demonstrate your understanding by analyzing real or simulated workplace hazards. It follows a structured approach as per the IOSH syllabus:

• Identify Hazards: Choose hazards from categories such as mechanical, physical, chemical, environmental, biological, or organizational.​

• Evaluate Who Might Be Harmed: Describe people who could be affected by the hazard, including employees, contractors, or visitors.​

• Review Existing Controls: Detail current measures like safety training, equipment guards, or personal protective equipment and evaluate their effectiveness.​

• Calculate Risk Ratings: Using the IOSH 5x5 matrix, assess the likelihood and severity to assign a current risk rating.​

• Recommend Additional Controls: Suggest improvements or new safety measures to reduce the risk to an acceptable level.​

• Assign Responsibility and Timeline: Clearly state who will take action and by when the controls should be implemented.​

• Document the Review Date and Closure: Include when the assessment will be reviewed and sign off the project.​

The risk assessment project is scored out of 38 marks with a pass mark of 23 (60%). Marks are awarded for clarity and completeness in hazard identification, risk ratings, control descriptions, and documentation of actions and responsibilities.​

Tips for Excelling in the IOSH Managing Safely Assessment

• Choose a real or realistic workplace to conduct your risk assessment, as this adds credibility and relevance.​

• Be thorough in describing hazards and affected individuals but keep explanations clear and concise.​

• Apply the risk matrix accurately, balancing likelihood and severity without exaggeration.​

• Suggest multiple types of control measures, such as engineering, administrative, and PPE, to demonstrate a comprehensive approach.​

• Complete all sections of the risk assessment form, including introductions and review dates, to earn easy marks.​

• Practice the written test using sample questions to ensure understanding of key health and safety concepts.​

Benefits of Passing the IOSH Managing Safely Assessment

Holding an IOSH Managing Safely certificate reflects your competence in managing workplace health and safety effectively. It:

• Enhances your ability to create safer work environments, reducing accidents and associated costs.​

• Demonstrates your commitment to legal compliance and proactive risk management.​

• Improves your confidence and leadership skills in promoting a positive safety culture within your organization.​

• Opens up career opportunities by validating an internationally recognized safety qualification.​

Conclusion

The IOSH Managing Safely assessment is designed not just as a test but as a practical tool to empower managers and supervisors with the skills to handle health and safety responsibilities confidently. By understanding the assessment structure, diligently preparing both the written test and risk assessment project, and applying best practices in risk management, you can successfully pass the assessment and contribute meaningfully to workplace safety.​

RayyanSafety.com encourages all aspiring safety professionals to approach the IOSH Managing Safely assessment as a valuable learning experience that equips them with practical, applicable knowledge for real-world safety management.